More news from photokina RE global photo chemistry

[lensman_nh]

The original point I was making is what is left in our industry needs to pool together, because we are dependent on each other. If most of the players continue to do as they are doing - standing by, watching others drown - our industry is certain to die very quickly.

I would say there are pooling together, but not necessarily in a way then benefits you. The Jobo CPP-3 will need low volume chemistry available for it to be a success. Enter Champion and re-enter Tetenal. Like I said there will be those that don't fit the new ecosystem and will vanish. "Your industry" as you put it is changing beyond recognition to the point it may not be your industry any more in any recognizable form. As it evolves the dependencies change. You may not be a critical component of the new industry.

It happened to my small comapny last year (different market). We made a mis-step, and couldn't recover in time in response to the market. Once you can't meet payroll it's all over, and it sucks. Prior success is no guarantee of future success, and it would have been close run if we hadn't tripped up. So I'm a wage slave again. It happens.

I asked you this question before. What do you think this "pooling together" looks like. Put something down so we can see what your vision of the industry is.

 

[CatLABS]

After adding another +1 to lensman (took the words out of my mouth, in a much better way then i would have even been able to put down), i can add, some facts, from an inside perspective, after being to photkina, and talking to lots of folks - pretty much everyone working in the analog business is working in tandem with another company\business in some way or form, and often more then just 2 way relationships exist.

I spoke with Keith canham the other day who said basically the same thing - we are all in it together. Film makers, chemistry makers, processor makers are all in the same team as in today's world the film USER, as DR5 puts it will get everything he wants from "amazon" like outlet. So as a matter of fact - lots of us are working together.

DR5 - as i said before, and to second lensman, the past has no bearing on the future. Start looking forward and count your achievements in real time, not those of days gone by. in a sentimental kind of way its sad, but in reality its great! Whats better then to to know you are making a "meaningful something" or another right now?

I just dont see the business operating today in the field of film\analog photography as "whats left" but as what is now the industrial basis of that market. If you dident like my half full cup analogy, go with a smaller cup and fill it all the way up

 

[Roger Cole]

Even a half full cup is actually all full - air is useful too.

 

[dr5chrome]

My point is very clear in these replies and it is this mentality that is sinking the analog/photographic ship.

All companies can survive if they offer product that serves a need, 'when needed'. How long that will last depends. In this industry everything is inter-connected. If one thing happens, it affects everyone in one way or another. Id say 1/2 of this forum are DIYer's. The rest rely on photographic services. Even DIYer's aren't strictly DIY. Lab service and Lab closing is a wide topic here. My guess is in the distant future there wont be 'any' service, it will be to expensive for most and when the volume drops to an unsustainable level, ALL labs will close. This all because interconnected industry made the materials so costly, you could not afford the service.
Connected to this are other costs the consumer must endure: shipping[up150% in 18mo], film cost, etc..
When ALL labs close how many do you think will buy the stuff needed to make photography? Not enough to keep the film companies alive - they need volume. so, how many are going to learn enough chemistry - or have the time - to go buy Rons book and make their own film/plates/paper ? Not many. So you see, its all connected and today we-all do not help each other.

It is my observation of an industry as a whole from years of watching it and being waste-deep in it for years. "you asked me before" - what.. If you see something different, then this is part of the problem. I dont think we need pages of this kind of data and debate here - this might be better suited in a round-table over coffee..

I would say there are pooling together, but not necessarily in a way then benefits you. The Jobo CPP-3 will need low volume chemistry available for it to be a success. Enter Champion and re-enter Tetenal. Like I said there will be those that don't fit the new ecosystem and will vanish. "Your industry" as you put it is changing beyond recognition to the point it may not be your industry any more in any recognizable form. As it evolves the dependencies change. You may not be a critical component of the new industry.

It happened to my small comapny last year (different market). We made a mis-step, and couldn't recover in time in response to the market. Once you can't meet payroll it's all over, and it sucks. Prior success is no guarantee of future success, and it would have been close run if we hadn't tripped up. So I'm a wage slave again. It happens.

I asked you this question before. What do you think this "pooling together" looks like. Put something down so we can see what your vision of the industry is.